answer every purpose. I hope to be in England in about a week from this, so you will only have one more letter and then myself. Monsieur Beulot, the rédacteur de 'Revue de deux Mondes,' has been exceedingly kind to me, he gave us a box at the opera the other night, where I was very much amused with the Teutchon*[1] of Sainte Antoine. Then we went and had ices at Tortoni's—such a brilliant scene. I fear I shall not be able to manage going to Versailles. I could not go by myself, and Miss Turin has not only seen it often, but is really so ill that she would not get through the day. I have at last obtained Captain M* * *'s letter ; nothing can be kinder, but there is nothing in it of any use. The misfortune is, that there really is scarcely anyone in Paris.
"Yours most truly,
"L. E. L."
My last quotation affords an idea of that feature of character which is often painted in her poetry; an excess of feminine timidity, which, much as it might distress her, and intensely as it might long for protection, yet ever led her rather to suffer absolute agony, than trouble, or encroach upon the good offices of others; for though she was as complete a coward as could be imagined, (and often suffered in great concerns and small, from want of common resolution,) the asking or accepting of an ordinary civility, which would have averted the evil, was a difficulty which, I suppose, none but splendid female poltroons could account for. I knew she was terrified at the thoughts of the journey to Boulogne and passage, but here is the letter:—
- ↑ * I am not sure of the name; nor of M. Beulot’s.
